Chapter 46 - A week away
The next morning arrived with an unfamiliar sense of ease.
Lyra woke to sunlight slipping through the curtains and the quiet sound of someone moving around the room.
She opened her eyes.
Amy was standing in front of the mirror, holding two pieces of clothing against herself.
Lyra stared at her for a moment.
"...What are you doing?"
Amy turned around.
"Good morning."
"You didn't answer."
"I'm deciding what I'd wear to the Freshers' Party."
Lyra blinked.
She had almost forgotten about it.
"The party is next week."
"Exactly."
"...That's still seven days away."
Amy lowered the clothes.
"Which is why we have to start planning now."
Lyra slowly sat up.
"...Why?"
Amy looked at her as though the answer were obvious.
"Because we're going shopping this weekend."
"We?"
"Yes."
Lyra stared at her.
Amy smiled.
"You didn't think I was letting you escape, did you?"
"...I was hoping."
By the time they reached the academy, the party had already become one of the most discussed topics among the students.
It was still a week away, but that seemed to matter very little.
Students were already talking about decorations, performances, food, and what they were planning to wear.
Lyra listened to the conversations without showing much interest.
Amy, on the other hand, seemed to absorb every word.
They had barely crossed the central courtyard when someone called out.
"Amy!"
Amy turned.
Mina was approaching them, her chestnut hair tied loosely behind her shoulders. Celia followed beside her, carrying the same book she seemed to have everywhere.
Nora walked a little behind them.
She noticed Lyra first.
Her steps slowed slightly.
Lyra gave her a small nod.
Nora returned it.
For a few seconds, nobody said anything.
Amy looked between them.
Mina looked between them.
Celia simply waited.
Lyra wondered if she was supposed to say something.
"...Hi."
Nora gave another small nod.
"...Hi."
Silence.
Amy stared at them.
"...Well, that went wonderfully."
Mina covered a smile.
"Sorry. I wasn't sure if you two had already met."
"We have," Nora said quietly.
"A few times," Lyra added.
Another pause.
Mina looked at Amy.
"Are you going to introduce us properly?"
Amy blinked.
"Oh. Right."
She gestured toward Lyra.
"This is Lyra."
Mina smiled.
"We've technically met before, but... hello."
Lyra nodded.
"Hello."
Amy pointed toward Mina.
"Mina."
Lyra gave her a small nod.
"And Celia."
Celia returned the gesture.
"Nice to meet you."
Lyra looked toward Nora.
"Nora."
Nora shifted slightly.
"...We just met yesterday."
Mina looked at the two of them.
"You two really don't talk much, do you?"
"No," they answered at almost the same time.
Mina laughed.
"Okay. This might take some work."
Amy sighed.
"Don't worry. Lyra gets better."
Lyra glanced at her.
"...Do I?"
Amy smiled innocently.
"Sometimes."
They began walking together.
The conversation remained awkward for a little while.
Mina tried starting different topics.
Celia occasionally added something.
Amy carried most of the conversation.
Nora mostly listened.
Lyra answered whenever someone directly asked her something.
It wasn't uncomfortable exactly.
Just...
New.
Then Mina suddenly remembered something.
"Oh! The party."
Amy immediately looked interested.
"What about it?"
"Have you decided what you're wearing?"
Amy shook her head.
"No."
"I knew it."
Mina smiled.
"I still need to find something too. And something for my boyfriend."
Amy blinked.
"...Your boyfriend?"
Mina stared at her.
"Yes."
"...You have a boyfriend?"
"Don't tell me you didn't know."
Amy looked genuinely embarrassed.
"We've never really talked about it."
Mina shook her head in disbelief.
"You've known me all this time."
"I know!"
Celia quietly turned a page of her book.
Mina suddenly looked at her.
"Actually, don't tell me you don't know about Celia either."
Amy frowned.
"Know what?"
Mina pointed toward Celia.
"She's engaged."
Amy froze.
"...What?"
Celia looked up from her book.
"I'm engaged."
Amy stared at her.
"You too?"
Celia raised an eyebrow.
"Why does that sound like an accusation?"
"I just... I didn't know."
"You never asked."
Amy looked between them.
"How did I not know either of these things?"
Mina laughed.
"I guess we don't talk about our personal lives much."
Amy placed a hand against her chest dramatically.
"I thought we were friends."
"We are."
"Then why am I always the last to know?"
Lyra felt a Deja vu for some reason. She thought about Seren for a split second.
Celia calmly closed her book.
"Perhaps because you never ask."
Mina burst out laughing.
Amy groaned.
"That's not fair."
Lyra had been quietly listening to the exchange.
She glanced at Mina.
"...How long have you been together?"
Mina's expression softened slightly.
"A while."
Then Lyra looked at Celia.
"And you?"
Celia paused.
"Long enough."
Mina looked at her.
"That's the most Celia answer possible."
Celia ignored her.
Amy shook her head, still amused.
"Okay. I officially know nothing about either of you."
Nora quietly spoke from beside them.
"...I didn't know either."
Amy immediately turned toward her.
"Finally. Someone understands me."
Nora gave a small smile.
"I don't think that's what she meant."
Lyra's lips twitched.
Amy noticed.
"Are you laughing at me?"
"...No."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Lyra looked away.
"...Maybe."
Amy smiled.
"Fine. I'll forgive you."
Mina clapped her hands once.
"Now, back to the important matter."
Lyra looked at her.
"...The party?"
"The dresses."
Lyra's expression immediately changed.
"...Oh."
Amy laughed.
"You're already regretting agreeing to this, aren't you?"
"...A little."
Mina grinned.
"Too late."
She turned toward Nora.
"What about you? What kind of dress do you like?"
Nora's eyes widened slightly.
"Me?"
"Yes."
She looked down for a moment.
"I haven't decided."
Mina smiled.
"Any preferences?"
Nora hesitated.
"...Something elegant."
"Elegant how?"
Nora thought about it.
"A fitted bodice, maybe."
Mina nodded.
"Okay."
"And a corset waist."
Amy's eyebrows lifted.
Nora continued, now apparently forgetting that everyone was listening.
"Layered skirts would be nice. Maybe lace around the sleeves. And embroidery... perhaps something with small pearls."
Silence.
Nora slowly looked up.
Everyone was staring at her.
"...What?"
Mina's mouth curved into a grin.
"Nora."
"...Yes?"
"I didn't know you were secretly waiting to look like royalty."
Nora's eyes widened.
"I'm not!"
Celia glanced at her.
"You just described half the dresses in a royal wardrobe."
Nora's cheeks immediately turned pink.
"They're pretty."
Amy covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Mina leaned closer.
"So you dolike princess dresses."
"I never said that."
"You didn't have to."
Nora looked down, clearly regretting answering.
Lyra watched her for a moment.
"...I think they'd suit you."
Nora looked up.
"Really?"
Lyra nodded.
"Yeah."
The blush on Nora's face deepened.
Mina immediately pointed at Lyra.
"See? Even Lyra agrees!"
Lyra frowned slightly.
"I don't know why that's exciting."
"Because we found Nora's weakness."
Nora covered her face with both hands.
"Please stop."
Amy finally laughed.
"I didn't expect that."
Nora peeked through her fingers.
"...Neither did I."
For some reason, that made everyone laugh again.
Even Celia smiled.
The awkwardness that had surrounded them earlier had begun to disappear.
Mina leaned back against the bench.
"Fine. Since we're all going to the party, we should go shopping together."
Amy nodded immediately.
"Definitely."
Celia considered it.
"I don't mind."
Mina turned toward Nora.
"You?"
Nora hesitated.
"...Can I come?"
"Of course."
Mina looked toward Lyra.
"And you?"
Lyra already knew where this was going.
"...Do I have a choice?"
Amy smiled.
"No."
Lyra sighed.
"...Fine."
Mina raised both hands triumphantly.
"Perfect."
Amy looked at Lyra.
"Saturday?"
Lyra nodded reluctantly.
"Saturday."
"Town?"
"Town."
Nora quietly smiled.
Celia reopened her book.
Mina looked pleased with herself.
For the first time since they'd all gathered together, nobody seemed unsure of what to say next.
They simply continued walking.
Lyra stayed beside Amy.
A few steps ahead, Mina was already discussing dresses with Nora, who had somehow become much more animated whenever the subject came up.
Celia occasionally corrected Mina's increasingly ridiculous suggestions.
Lyra listened.
She didn't say much.
She didn't need to.
For once, being part of the conversation didn't feel like something she had to force herself into.
It simply...
Happened.
And somehow, she didn't mind.
Author's Note
Amy really thought she knew her friends.
Only to find out that Mina has a boyfriend and Celia is engaged.
Girl really thought she had two fellow single friends this whole time. ??
That realization might have hurt a little more than she wants to admit. ??